Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-06-09
MY SEN9RYTA.
Atlanta Constitution

Atlanta Constitution.
One bright Spring morning in 187-,
when the diligencia rolled out of Toboso
found myself the only passenger.
had ride of forty miles before me to
the City of Mexico, and the prospect of
making the trip alone did not suit me-
The driver of the diligencia, one Gil Perez
had vlllainOus face, a face suggestive of
treason, strategems and spoils, and every
time it was turned In my direction I in
stinctively felt under the seat TO see if my
valise was still there.
My yalise was fully worthy o. this at
tention on my part. 1t contained $4,000
IN gold, the result of my collecting trip to
Toboso, undertaken in the interest of a
wealthy American client at the capital.
The interior of the vehicle was capable
of accommodating six or eight persons,
and | longed for fellow passenger.
We had not left the outskirts of the
town fairly behind US, when the lumber
ing old coach was brought to a sudden
standstill, the four horses throwing them
selves into line across the road with
the evident intention of taking to the
woods.
l"Carrajol' he wled Gil Perez from his
lofty perch as he gave his whip vicious
crack "Thou devil of Sancho, will
cut out thy heart and liver; and as for
thee, Perdita, will fay thee alive"
laughed. When the driver talked in
this fashion to his beasts he was in good
numer. His lusty oaths and frightfuI
threats counted for nothing.
The cause of our halt was soon explain
ed. Two young women had signaled Gill
Perez to stop. One of them was immedi-
ately bundled into the vehicle by her com
panion and the driver. It seems to me
that some bird of the tropics, with an ov-
er towering glitter of gorgeous plumage
had sIooped down upon me and I natur-
ally looked out of the window until ]
could think of something to say.
1t struck me that the new passengers
maid, for such the young woman outside
appeared to be, was a very picturesque
affair She had rich complexion, with
fine black eyes, and her hair, arranged in
long, glossy Plaits, hung down nearly to
her heels. Her head, neck and shoulders
were perfectly bare, and her only gar
ments were loose fitting while cotton
tunic and Petticoat of red and blue
reached to her knees. She gave me a
saucy look and kissed her hand TO her
mistress, keeping up lively chatter all
she time.
After the driver had slowed away the
light baggage of the senorita, as he called
her, and parting adios had been ex-
changed between the lady and the airy
looking young woman who was to be left
behind, the diligencia started, and was
soon rumbling on its way.
Under the circumstances it wss imposi-
bic for me to go on looking at the land
wa aIc ri l,1+,
to make myself agreeable to the SEN
orita.
The task did not appear at all unpleas-
ant to me after had furtively surveyed
the situation out of the tail of my eve.
If an excuse for opening a conversation
had.been lacking, Gill Perez was polite
enough to supply it.
''The senior will be delighted to know"
he said, with a flourish, 'Fthat the senorita
will honor Us with her company all the
way to the city"
| managed in rather crippled Spanish
to express my almost delerious pleasure,
and wound up by saying that had been
IN state of utter gloom and despai: over
my solitary journey.
To my surprise, the sen0rita replied in
excellent English, and said that she was
overioyed to have an American for fell
low traveller.
II like the Americans she said; "they
are, what do you call it? Nice, think, is
the word. Yes, they are so nice"
'sTalks like one of our boarding school
misses" / said to myself, and then made
some suitable reply.
There was no question about it. The
sen0rita was pretty. Tall as a daughter
of the gods, with midnight hair and eyes,
harmonizing well with her brunette com
plexion, she was what I called, impressed
as was by her costume, a blazing beauty,
She was not dressed for travelling, but
perhaps she consider ed a ride of forty
miles mere trifie. She was attired aft II
the fashion of the senoritas | had seen
pronenadirg in the parks at the Capital
Her hair was studded with flashing gems,
and her dress was of some almost diaph-
anous material that seemed to CLEAN and
simmer with the prismatic hues of the
rainbow. She wore the inevitable black
lace mantilla which ladies are seldom
seen without in Spanish-American coun-
tries, but if it was intended to effectually
conceal her snowy shoulders it was la
inevitable failure as Disguise; as much
SO as the V-shaped bodiae, which was SO
literally cut that found myself softly
quoting:
On her white breast a sparkling cross she wore
Which Jews might kiss and infides adore
My fair companion was not long in te Il
ing me that she was returning from q
brief visit to sick relative. Beyond that
she had little to reveal about herself. Bu,
she did not scruple to ask any number OF
questions. Did / like Mexico? Was
travelling for business Or pleasure? What
did think of the Mexican ladies?
I answered all these questions as IlazilJ
and eomplacently watched the futterine
fan with which this beautiful creature ap